doglover -- Yes, I put my stacks under cover of the carport or deck over winter. At the least, I lay them on their sides to prevent water from collecting in them and freezing. I sometimes just spray them off with a hose in the summer.

Oh boy, lots of catching up to do! doglover had a few questions so thought I'd pop in and try to help......oh yeah and "officially" welcome her!

First, I LOVE your "greenmen"! I've used both E-6000 and Thinset to "glue" mosaics to cement and both have worked well. Personally, I think E-6000 is easier to use but it's a little stinky! FYI, Walmart has the cheapest price on E-6000 I've found, $1.00 less a tube than Michael's! Thinset works better for 'some' things, especially if you're applying glass or tiles with different thicknesses. I've only been working with mosaics for a year so I'm still learning about all the different techniques.

You asked about "painting" cement. I've done a lot of research and even though I don't have years of hands-on experience this is what I've read. Most any paint will work but 'some' are better than others. I've had pretty good luck just using the cheap acrylic paints but like any painted surface you need to apply a sealer (more on that in a minute). Sharon's right, the color won't last "forever" but after two years most things I've done are still holding up well. Any latex house paint works well too. I haven't gone the extra step yet to purchase "outdoor" acrylic paints or "patio paints" but supposedly they'll hold their color longer. They do cost a little more and I've been too cheap to pay the extra price!

Stains for concrete are available and provide a longer lasting option because they penetrate the concrete versus using paint which just coats the surface. Unfortunately the stains readily available (Lowes/Home Depot) don't offer much for color options. In order to achieve some of the really unique looks I've seen with stained concrete it's usually necessary to order these special stains. They're not cheap and from reports I've seen, a little tricky to use.

Sealers - the most important thing to remember is to buy a product which specifically states it's a "penetrating" sealer. I know people who have used polyurethane or marine varnish but again, just like the paint, they "coat" the concrete versus penetrating it. Another of my reasons for avoiding these products is because they have a tendency to 'yellow' with exposure to the sun. The only problem I have with most penetrating sealers is they usually have a glossy or semi-glossy finish and most of the time I prefer a 'matte' finish. I solved this problem by using three coats of a penetrating sealer and then a quick finish coat with clear matte spray paint.

Whew! Hope that information helps you!

Thanks Debbie! See, I knew you would say it better than I did!

Thanks Debie,Sharon and Tee and anyone else I missed. Thank you for such quick response. Can't wait till warm wather to get crafting outdoors. I will print all these tips so I do not forget. I will be sure to have many of these different paints to try on some scrap pieces of cement to see what works the best. Definately have to get that E600 glue. Is it safe to use on mirror pieces for mosaic? Will it remove the backing? You folks are great and sooooo sooo knowledgeable and willing to share. I'm impressed again. doglover

It won't hurt the backing, unless later you try to pull the little mirrors off. Then the backing might stay with the glue. And you are very welcome.

I feel soo guilty...about letting my primed bowling ball sit..unfinished ...Its is a sticky wicket when painting concrete,Dont use oil based enamel forsure,it will peel quickly. I used hammered green on big frog,will be stripping it sooner or later,,also a birdbath,used a wrong clearcoat in a spray can. Behr concrete sealer I ve been told is good ,but it comes in gallon only. I have a new one its rustoleum ,I have my doubts..

Well, here's an old one of mine you might remember from another site.

Bought a bunch of big Christmas ornaments when they went on clearance and then applied the clear gems from the dollar store.

I have two I've had sitting for a couple years that aren't finished, grand daughter asked if we could get working on them again. I think they'll be in the garden for sure this year!

Here's another, sadly this one faded very quickly the 1st year in the garden.

Very pretty! What kind of material are the balls/ornaments themselves?

Very pretty

The balls/ornaments are made of plain old plastic. I thinki I must have at least 1/2 dozen up in the attic yet waiting for some creativity!

Thanks. I have a few of those too and hadn't thought about embellishing them. I like that a lot and mine are not as large as bowling balls so I can get them completed faster (maybe).

Doglover, I see that Debbie (rcn48) has answered most of your questions. She does some amazing work!! There is another thread here on the garden art forum that has lots of questions and answers about Quikwall, paint, sealer, projects, even some mini tutorials. You'll probably find lots of useful information there as well.

The thread "QuikWall Art and Cement Tutorial" in Garden Art forum

Im going to put on my shopping list....Pretty things to glue onto a bowling ball...LOL...Beautiful BBs..I cant beleive I have not seen something that I`d think would look pretty on a bb....Geesh and Im always looking for something to do...LOL...No Garden Art stacks this year...( Tee)

Me either, Tam. But I'm liking the looks of those ornaments covered with ______ (fill in the blank). Put them on top of things, hang them from trees or wherever. Lighter weight is a plus for some locations. I have three bowling balls out there but I'm going to just leave them as-is for the garden unless I do something with the one that's faded a bit. The others look fine.

Tee, I have 2 bbs that I will never cover up,they are old hard rubber bbs,marblized tan & black,Teal and Black,the smooth polished finish is gone now, and they are now really Vivid in color,kind of a open grain ??? but really cool now, when you get them wet they stink to high heaven.. . I need to get this bathroom done...got all the staining done,tomorrow poly time...

One of my bbs is like that and we'll see what the others do but they are so pretty, I just turn the holes toward the ground to keep the water out and am leaving them the way they are. Love them. One gal here in town has hundreds of bbs in her yard as edging, accents, decorations, stacked up, every which way. None are covered, I don't think. Very cool!

Go get that bathroom finished so you can really enjoy it. I seem to have so many interruptions anymore it sometimes takes me forever to get anything completed.

I need to get to work...LOL...I was just posting on FB looking for old chairs for Potting Chairs,for the Humane shelter fund raiser ..Like I need more to do.. I have several BBs that have nothing on them,I sure liked the 1 on the pedestal with the glass dodads...

Im thinking Grandkid project... Wish I had more BBs for the fund raiser

Is anyone out there? I am fairly new to ATP and found this thread and ready every entry. I was so looking forward to seeing more pictures of bb's and the Sept 2012 scarecrow creations. I have many bb's that my son gave me. I have not done anything with them yet but hope to do a few this winter. I bookmarked many threads that some of you suggested so I will be reading all of them from beginning to end. You all are so fun and smart and informative. I have learned so much from all of you. Thanks from the bottom of my heart......

Jeanne, if what you were looking for wasn't on this thread, it could very well be another thread within Garden Art. My only thought is to keep looking? I'm so sorry the threads aren't more organized for you